Communication system

ABSTRACT

A communication system for facilitating introductions comprising a plurality of terminals, recording means for recording a visual image of an individual at said terminal and for storing said image in a store together with corresponding images from other said terminals, networking means for networking images from said store amongst terminals from which the images do not originate, selecting means enabling said individual to select an image from amongst those transmitted to his/her terminal, indicating means to indicate such selection to the terminal from which the selected image originated, and communication means controlled by the individual at the selected terminal enabling the individuals at the selecting and selected terminals to communicate with each other.

This invention relates to a communication system for facilitatingintroductions its primary purpose is for effecting social introductionsbetween members of the opposite sex (dating) but it may also findapplications for other purposes, for example at employment exchanges orjob centers, particularly in circumstances where an employer intends torecruit a substantial number of staff and wishes to make a preliminaryselection on a sounder basis than is possible from only writtenparticulars of the candidates.

Video dating agencies are known in which a person seeking introductionssubscribes to an agency and makes a short video of him/herself, which isthen made available by the agency to other subscribers who haveexpressed an interest in the individual. Those who wish to be introducedthen contact the agency, who puts the two parties in contact.

This known service has the disadvantage that it is an off-lineprocedure, so there is often a considerable delay between an individualregistering with the agency and making a video, and receiving aresponse. The present invention has as an object the provision of asystem in which the lead-time between registering and receiving aresponse from another individual is substantially reduced.

According to the invention, there is provided an introduction systemcomprising a plurality of terminals, recording means for recording avisual image of an individual at said terminal and for storing saidimage in a store together with corresponding images from other saidterminals, networking means for networking images from said storeamongst terminals from which the images do not originate, selectingmeans enabling said individual to select an image from amongst thosetransmitted to his/her terminal, indicating means to indicate suchselection to the terminal from which the selected image originated, andcommunication means controlled by the individual at the selectedterminal enabling the individuals at the selecting and selectedterminals to communicate with each other.

The visual image may be accompanied by data regarding the individual.

The terminal may comprise means for the individual to record a videorecording of him/herself at said terminal, and to transmit saidrecording to the store.

The visual image is a still image in the preferred embodiment, and mayfor example be a video freeze-frame or other still extracted from thevideo recording. For example, it may be selected directly from a cameraimage projected on the terminal screen.

Each terminal may comprise means for displaying simultaneously aplurality of the visual images transmitted thereto.

There may be means enabling the individual at the selected terminal toreview the video recording of the individual (which recording may bestored on videotape or in digital or other format) at the selectingterminal before activating the communication means.

Preferably there are means for an individual at a selecting terminal toreview a video recording of a person at a selected terminal beforeoperating the indicating means.

The indicating means may be adapted to cause transmission of the visualimage of the individual at the selecting terminal to the selectedterminal together with an indication of interest.

The networking means may be adapted to network the visual image from asaid terminal to other terminals in a defined geographical area.

Each terminal may comprise means to activate the terminal and connect itto the networking means for a limited period of time upon payment of atime-related fee.

The system may comprise means controlling the store whereby the visualimage from the activated terminal is stored during use of the terminalby said individual and thereafter is erased or transferred to asecondary storage means.

There may be a single store in which all said images of individuals atterminals are stored.

Alternatively, there may be a plurality of stores, each storecommunicating with at least one other store to exchange images ofindividuals at terminals.

In a preferred embodiment each said image is initially stored atpredetermined respective one of said stores.

The networking means may utilise a public ISDN, a cable network or othermeans of data networking.

The networking means may be controlled by the said selected terminal topermit direct communication via the ISDN between the selected andselecting terminal.

The system may comprise a plurality of geographically or otherwisephysically separate stations each comprising a plurality of terminals,each terminal being screened and acoustically insulated fromneighbouring terminals.

The invention also provides a terminal for use in a system as set forthabove comprising means for recording a visual image of an individualusing said terminal; means for transmitting said visual image to astore, means for receiving from said store a plurality of visual imagesoriginating from other terminals; means for selecting one of saidreceived images; means for indicating said selection to a terminal whichhas transmitted the selected image; and means for controllingcommunication with another terminal following receipt from said otherterminal an indication that the user thereof has viewed said recordedvisual image and wishes to establish communication.

The invention will now be described merely by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 to 7 identify the components of the system of FIG. 1 which areutilised in successive operating modes;

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a further embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the system comprises a plurality of terminalstations 10,12,14,16 which are geographically spaced apart, say inneighbouring towns, or in different districts of a city. In a fullydeveloped system there would be a network of such terminal stationsthroughout the country.

Each terminal station is intended for use by members of one sex at anyone time. In each locality served by the system there are separateterminal stations for men and women, either in different buildings orperhaps in separate parts of the same building. To cater for variationsin demand, each station, or discrete parts of each station may "changesex" by being re-designated at the controller 30 described hereafter.

Each terminal station comprises a number of terminals each in a separatebooth screened and sound-proofed from neighbouring terminal booths. Forconvenience, only one such terminal is shown at each station10,12,14,16.

Each terminal booth contains a bench, facing mirror, a timer 20activated by a token or coin-freed apparatus or credit/charge cardreader, a video camera and microphone 22, recording and playbackequipment 24, a VDU monitor (CRT or LCD) 26, a loudspeaker or headphonesand simple push-button controls and associated switching 28 ashereinafter described.

The terminals are connected to a networking controller 30 byconventional communication links suitable for video signal transmission,for example either through the telephone system, microwave links, ordedicated fibre-optic or other hard-wired circuits. The video signal maybe digitised and compressed for transmission.

The controller 30 contains a store 32 for the storage and retrieval ofstill frame pictures as described hereafter, and exchange switching 34for transmitting selections of the still pictures to opposite-sexterminals, the selections being made for example on the basis of thegeographical locations of the originating and receiving terminals.

A person making use of the system enters the booth in (say) station 12(FIG. 2) and accesses the terminal by inserting a token or card. Uponpressing a start button, instructions are displayed on the monitor

Press RECORD

Give your:

First name

Age and sex

Occupation

District in which you live

The user's sex is requested because although it can be deduced from theterminal location in a segregated-sex station, this is not so for asingle terminal as described hereafter.

The person then arranges him/herself in the minor, perhaps rehearsesfirst, and then records a short (e.g. twenty-second) video. Thecomponents 22,24,26,28 of the system utilised at this stage are shown inbold in FIG. 2. The video camera 22 is pre-focused to film ahead-and-shoulders shot of the booth occupant and to provide an instantdisplay thereof on the monitor whilst recording sound and picture in theequipment 24 for future playback.

Upon completion of recording the recording equipment 24 rewinds enablingthe booth occupant to review his/her performance.

If not happy with the results he/she can re-record over the previousattempt until a satisfactory result is obtained. The occupant thenselects a single still frame from the video which he/she considers thebest for storage in the central store 32.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the booth occupant presses a "transmit" buttonand his/her video recording and selected still frame are sent to thecentral store 32 and retained therein until the payment/timer system 20switches off. The central store 32 sorts the still frames in its memoryaccording to original terminal station and transmits each frame toopposite-sex booths at neighbouring stations. Alternatively or inaddition the booth occupant may specify stations to which he/she does ordoes not wish the frame to be sent.

If the store has sufficient installed capacity the system can also allowthe video to be sent to the store and retained there, enabling fasteraccess and review by opposite-sex terminals.

The still frames received at a terminal are displayed on the monitor 26in a composite array or bitmap showing in this example nine frames eachwith an identifying reference number, the one originating from theterminal at station 12 above being indicated at 36 in the monitor 20 ofstation 14.

The booth occupant at station 12 likewise receives a bitmap of ninestill frames on his/her monitor, as indicated in FIG. 4. If none appeal,then further selections may be accessed by pressing a "more" button.

If the booth occupant at station 12 finds one of the still frames ofinterest, say that of the occupant at the illustrated booth at station14, he/she selects that frame by keying the appropriate number andpresses a "play" button which initiates replay of the video recordingfrom which the selected still frame was taken, as shown in FIG. 5. Ifhaving seen and heard the video recording the booth occupant at station12 is no longer interested he/she can revert to further arrays of ninestills until an acceptable one is found.

Alternatively, if the booth 12 occupant finds the person in the videorecording interesting, he/she indicates interest by pressing a "this isme" button which causes his/her video still to be displayed at thatperson's terminal, e.g. at station 14 as shown in FIG. 6, with a messageor emphasis showing the sender's interest.

The video still is presented as a window 38, so as not to interruptexcessively the use of the screen by the person at station 14.Alternatively a marker may be shown on the screen inviting him/her toview the video still when convenient.

The person at station 14 can respond either by pressing a "busy" buttonif he/she is already talking to someone, or is just not interested, orby calling-up the booth 12 occupant's video recording. If interest isconfirmed on seeing the recording, the booth 14 occupant presses a"talk" button, thereby establishing audio-visual contact with the personat booth 12, as shown in FIG. 7. The parties are then free to converseas they wish until the time purchased through the timers 20 at either ofthe stations expires, or one party breaks the communication link bypressing the "MORE" button, which causes both the terminals to revert tothe nine-image selection mode discussed with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 shows how the invention may be realised by the use of an ISDN(Integrated Services Digital Network) system.

The controller 30 of FIG. 1 is constituted by a number ofcall-controller PCs 134 which in combination with an ISDN 135 performthe function of the exchange switching 34. One or more central fileservers 132 act as the store 32. The PCs and servers are linked by a LANhub 140. The stations 10,12,14,26,etc., include terminal PCs 142 tofunction as the controls and switching 28, monitor 26 and videorecording and playback facility 24 of FIG. 1 in combination with a videocamera (not shown). High-quality recording, playback and communicationare achieved by equipping the PCs 142 with MPEG record and playbackcards, a British Telecommunications plc VC8000 video conferencing cardfor compressed audio visual and data transmission via the ISDN to thecall controller PCs 134. MPEG is the Moving Pictures Expert Group'sstandard for digital compression of PAL video signals.

Connection between users via the public ISDN network provides sufficientdata bandwidth to allow video conference calls to be made. The H320series of standards that are applicable to this medium include a subsetdealing with the compression of synchronised video and audio output. Theterminal PCs 142 are fitted with video conferencing cards to permitthis; the VC8000 card is preferred amongst currently available cards.This card performs three functions: video overlay on to PC screen, videoand data screen compression and decompression, and communicationshandling across the ISDN.

The VC8000 requires a PAL input which can be either the camera for livecommunication, or the MPEG stream converted back to PAL for a recordedsequence. It is preferred to store the recorded sequences in H320 formatso that multiple transformations are not required. Whilst this cannot beachieved with a VC8000 card, it may be possible using a Telsys product(newly available in 1994) which provides H320 storage to disc using aserver architecture. This would also enable the MPEG cards to bedispensed with.

The-terminal stations 10,12,14,16 may each comprise a number of PCs 142,or some or all could have just a single PC 142'; such single terminalsstations could find applications in outlets such as bars, restaurants,shops, etc.

A terminal may alternatively be provided by means of a videophone 144.In such cases the video recording is made at the master station by meansof one of the call controller PCs 134 and servers 132.

Revenue collection by the system operator from terminal operators may bemade automatically by arranging for access to the system to be achievedby dialling a premium-rate number (e.g. 0898 numbers in the UnitedKingdom). Then a terminal is automatically billed by its' telephoneservice provider for time-on-line to the system. In such situations, orindeed generally if desired, the software for the terminals 142,142' maybe downloaded from the controller PCs 134 via the ISDN or other publictelephone network e.g. by dialling a toll-free number (0800 in the UK).

Site servers 132 receive all of the stills and recordings for new liveusers by calls via the ISDN from terminal PCs 142 to the controller PCs134. The user software in the terminal PCs holds the ISDN numbers of thecontroller PCs.

The LAN hub 140 uses a very high bandwidth backplane and allows a largenumber of controller PCs to be provided, although limitations on theserver hard disc access may require multiple servers to be provided tohold and present the user clips.

The servers 132 maintain and keep track of which users are viewing whichcomposite bitmaps. As a new user joins or leaves the system the relevantcomposite bitmaps are updated centrally and then distributed by a shortVC8000 data call to each of the receiving terminal PCs 142.

The MPEG record card at the terminal PC 142 is used to record the 20second clip and to select the still image. When the still and recordingare transferred to the server (where each 20 second recording requires3.75 megabytes of disc space), the information transferred will includethe ISDN number of the terminal 142 at which the new user is signing onto the system. This number is used to set up direct connections betweenthe terminals of users who have agreed to speak to each other. However,a call re-direction facility is provided so that if a terminal operator,e.g. a single terminal does not wish his ISDN number to be made knownthe connection is made via the controller PC 134.

When a user requests to view a recording, the controller PC 134 findsthe clip on one of the servers 132. The controller reads the MPEGsequence from the server and converts the stored sequence into PAL. ThePAL output becomes the source for the VC8000 card which transmits thesequence to the user's terminal PC 142 as an H261 and G728 data stream.

When a session has been completed the user has the option of savinghis/her still and recorded sequence for subsequent use, or by default itwill be deleted.

FIG. 9 shows a further development of the system in which the storage ofvideo recordings and the compilation of bitmaps is performed at or inthe locality of the terminal station at which they originate. Theterminal PCs 142 of terminal station 10 are connected via LAN hub 140 tolocal controller PCs 134 and local servers 132, both of which are at orclose by the terminal station location. Terminals 142 for men and womenfor a given neighbourhood which are located close to each other, e.g. inseparate parts of the same building, will share the same controller PCsand servers. Video recordings of users of the terminals 142 are storedin those servers. Terminal PCs 142 of terminal station 12 communicatevia LAN 146 with controller PCs 134 and local server 132. The station 12is shown as having fewer controller PCs and servers than station 10, toillustrate that different stations may have different installedcapacities, depending on demand. Each LAN 146 can accommodate a serverand five controller PCs 142. If more than five PCs 142 are to beserviced, then the LAN may be duplicated or resort may be had to the hubsystem shown for station 10. Single terminal stations 142',144communicate with controller PCs 134 at one of the stations 10,12 via theISDN 148.

The servers 132 communicate with each other via the ISDN network andexchange bitmaps. Each server (or group of servers at a single location)in fact communicates with the servers at its four closest neighbouringterminal stations, as shown in FIG. 10.

In that figure "site 1" corresponds for example to terminal station 10of FIG. 9, "site 2" to station 12, "site 3" to station 13, and "site 4"to station 14. Each individual server creates and maintains its owncomposite bitmaps of users from the closest four sites.

When a new user starts a session the initial set of bitmaps he views arethose from the four geographically closest sites. Should the user makeuse of the "More" control then the system presents images of people froma progressively wider geographical area. The system detects when theuser is nearing the end of a set of images and automatically preparesthe next set to view to ensure smooth continuation of the selectionprocess. These images are mixed so that people from each of the foursites that make up an area are viewed at the same time.

In order to maximise the initial choice, three areas are available forimmediate access during the initial viewing period. These bitmaps arecollated from these area sites while the user is making his own videoclip and selecting his chosen still. Other areas are progressively madeavailable on demand.

The user effectively "ripples" out the search from the four closestsites onwards. Referring to FIG. 10, the first set of bitmaps are thosefor Sites 2-5 following 6-9 and then 10-13 and so on. Once this levelhas been exhausted the user can move out to the bitmap that covers theSites 22-25 and then the ones connected to Site 7. The system monitorsthe user and keeps a minimum number of bitmaps prepared for viewingat-all times. Each site composes and maintains only the composite bitmapfor its four closest sites, and periodically updates the other sites ofchanges in the bitmap composition.

The user has the ability to move backwards as well as forwards among thecomposite bitmaps already presented.

In order that the storage capability for the recordings is as flexibleas possible, and to allow multiple users to view the same video clipsimultaneously, storage is by means of PC hard disc. The format ofstorage is preferably to compress the camera and audio streams into MPEGformats as used by CD-I units.

The recordings are kept on the local server and played to remote usersvia the controller PCs 134. Using this approach it is possible toservice up to five simultaneous requests to view a single recording fromwithin one site or, alternatively, five requests to view differentrecordings from within one site, or any intermediate combination.

Providing that all of the controller PCs are not busy, the time fromrequesting to view to receiving the requested recording should be only afew seconds. During this time the system moves the bitmap of theselected user to centre focus on the screen at the requesting terminal142, enlarges the image and provides a brief introductory sequence"counting down" to the arrival of the clip.

If a remote site is temporarily unable to play the requested clipbecause all its controller PCs 134 are busy, the user can choose to waitor continue and select an alternative. The system can if requested playthe original choice when it becomes available.

The method of use of the systems shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 is basicallythe following. Although this sequence is described in the context of aterminal at a dedicated multi-terminal station, it also applies to asingle terminal.

1. The user purchases sufficient credits for a session from a machine orcashier and inserts either one of these or a credit card into the booth.

2. The user moves PC 142 out of wait state and receives a promotionaland instructional video message.

3. New users must enter their name and sex. Regular users may obtain asystem generated PIN (personal identification number).

4. The user is then offered the opportunity to record a video clip of amaximum length of 20 seconds by using simple record, stop, play andrewind commands. A record, review re-record cycle can occur at thispoint.

5. Once the sequence has been saved in the PC 142, the user is promptedto capture a still image which will be the one used by the system toshow the user at other sites. Again there can be simple commands and acapture, review and capture cycle until the user is satisfied.

6. Regular users of the system may wish to save their introductionsequence which when the user signs-off can be transferred to a secondarystore (e.g. another server, not shown in the figures). The user maysubsequently access it by using his/her system generated PIN. Thedefault case will be to erase the sequence following a declined optionto store.

7. The still is then transferred to the server 132 and transmitted toall the other sites that are currently viewing bitmaps from the site.

8. The user is presented with bitmaps of the users from the nearest foursites. The bitmaps are presented such that users from all of the foursites are mixed on any one screen. A simple "More" command enables theuser to view further sets of bitmaps. As the user continues to viewbitmaps the geographical spread of the search will widen. The systemautomatically detects when sets of bitmaps have been completed and cueup further sets in advance.

9. The user selects a remote user whose clip he/she wishes to view byusing the keyboard or mouse. The system informs the user that therequest to view the clip has been received and the selected bitmap isenlarged and given centre focus.

10. The remote users clip is then viewed by the user who then has thechoice of atiempting to present his/her own still or going back to thebitmap.

11. If the user wishes to present his still, the remote (selected) useris presented with a flashing image of the selecting ,user, who isinformed that the image is flashing at the remote end.

12. The remote user can then view the selecting user's clip or declineto do so. The user is informed of the outcome of this decision.

13. The remote user also has the option to bypass the clip review and gostraight to live communication. If live communication is selected theremote user immediately appears live on the user's monitor and viceversa.

14. If the recorded sequence is reviewed by the remote user, anotheroption is given when it completes either to go live or to reject theinvited contact. The selecting user is informed if the outcome of thisdecision is to reject. Whilst the clip is being viewed the original useris still able to view the bitmap selection screens.

15. When the user's session is running out, a warning is given leavingsufficient time to input more credits.

16. When the session is complete the system erases all details of theuser unless a selection is made to save those details.

We claim:
 1. A communication system for facilitating introductionscomprising a plurality of terminals, each with a video camera directedto view an individual using said terminal, said recording means forrecording a visual image of said individual, means for adding said imageto a store containing corresponding images from other said terminals,networking means for networking images from said store amongst terminalsfrom which the images do not originate, selecting means enabling saidindividual to select an image from amongst those transmitted to his/herterminal, indicating means to indicate such selection to the terminalfrom which the selected image originated, communication means controlledby the individual at the selected terminal enabling the individuals atthe selecting and selected terminals to communicate with each other, andmeans enabling the individual at the selected terminal to review a videorecording of the individual at the selecting terminal before activatingthe communication means.
 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachterminal comprises means for displaying simultaneously a plurality ofthe visual images transmitted thereto.
 3. A system as claimed in claim1, comprising means for the individual at the selecting terminal torecord said video recording of him/herself at said terminal, and totransmit said recording to the store.
 4. A system as claimed in claims 3or 7, wherein the visual image is still from the video recording.
 5. Asystem as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for the individual at theselecting terminal to review a video recording of a person at a selectedterminal before operating the indicating means.
 6. A system as claimedin claim 1, wherein the indicting means is adapted to cause transmissionof the visual image of the individual at the selecting terminal to theselected terminal together with an indication of interest.
 7. A systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein the visual image is a still image.
 8. Asystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein each terminal comprises means toactivate the terminal and connect it to the networking means for alimited period of time upon payment of a time-related fee.
 9. A systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a single store in which all saidimages of individuals at terminals are stored.
 10. A system as claimedin claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of stores, each storecommunicating with at least one other store to exchange images ofindividual at terminals.
 11. A system as claimed in claim 10, whereineach said image is initially stored at a predetermined respective one ofsaid stores.
 12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the networkingmeans utilizes a public ISDN.
 13. A system as claimed in claim 12,wherein the networking means is controlled by the said selected terminalto permit direct communication via the ISDN between the selected andselecting terminal.
 14. A system as claimed in claim 1, having aplurality of geographically or otherwise physically separate stationseach comprising a plurality of said terminals, each terminal beingscreened and acoustically insulated from neighboring terminals.
 15. Aterminal for use in a system as claimed in claim 1, comprising means forrecording a visual image of an individual using said terminal; means fortransmitting said visual image to a store, means for receiving from saidstore a plurality of visual images originating from other terminals;means for selecting one of said received images; means for indicatingsaid selection to a terminal which has transmitted the selected image;means for controlling communication with another terminal followingreceipt from said other terminal of an indication that the user thereofhas viewed said recorded visual image and wishes to establishcommunication and means visually and acoustically screening the terminalfrom its surrounding.
 16. The system of claim 1 wherein the storecomprises at least one hard disc.
 17. A method of facilitatingintroductions comprising providing a plurality of audio-visualterminals, recording a visual image of an individual at a said terminaland storing said image in a store together with corresponding images ofunintroduced individuals at other said terminals, networking images fromsaid store amongst terminals from which the images do not originate,selecting at said terminal an image from amongst those transmitted tothat terminal, indicating such selection to the terminal from which theselected image originated by sending thereto the image of the individualat the selecting terminal, and initiating under the control of theindividual at the selected terminal live audio visual communicationbetween the individuals at the selecting and selected terminals.
 18. Amethod as claimed in claim 17 comprising adding the image from thefirst-mentioned terminal to the store when said store already containsimages from other said terminals and whilst said images are beingnetworked.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein a terminal issupplied with networked images from the store only after the image fromthat terminal has been added to the store.
 20. A method as claimed inclaim 17, wherein said selection is indicated by the individual at theselecting terminal after he/she has viewed a video recording of theindividual at the selected terminal.
 21. A communication system forfacilitating introductions comprising a plurality of terminals, eachwith a video camera directed to view an individual using said terminal,recording means for recording a visual image of said individual, meansfor adding said image to a store containing corresponding images fromother said terminals, networking means for networking images form saidstore amongst terminals from which the images do not originate,selecting means enabling said individual to select an image from amongstthose transmitted to his/her terminal, indicating means to indicate suchselection to the terminal from which the selected image originated,communication means controlled by the individual at the selectedterminal enabling the individuals at the selecting and selectedterminals to communicate with each other, and means for the individualat the selecting terminal to review a video recording of an individualat a selected terminal before operating the indicating means.
 22. Asystem as claimed in claim 21, wherein there are means preventing theindividual at a selecting terminal from receiving said video recordingof an individual at a selected terminal unless the visual image of theindividual at the selecting terminal has first been added to the store.23. A system claimed in claim 21, wherein each terminal comprises meansfor displaying simultaneously a plurality of the visual imagestransmitted thereto.
 24. A system as claimed in claim 21, comprisingmeans for the individual at the selecting terminal to record said videorecording of him/herself at said terminal, and to transmit saidrecording to the store.
 25. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein thevisual image is a still image.
 26. A system as claimed in claim 21,wherein there is a singe store in which all said images of individualsat terminals are stored.
 27. A system as claimed in claim 21, whereinthere are a plurality of stores, each store communicating with at leastone other store to exchange images of individuals at terminals.
 28. Asystem as claimed in claim 27, wherein each said image is initiallystored at a predetermined respective one of said stores.
 29. A system asclaimed in claim 21, wherein the networking means utilizes a publicISDN.
 30. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the networking meansis controlled by the said selected terminal to permit directcommunication via the ISDN between the selected and selecting terminals.31. A terminal for use in a system as claimed in claim 21, comprisingmeans for recording a visual image of an individual using said terminal;means for transmitting said visual image to a store, means for receivingfrom said store a plurality of visual images originating from otherterminals; means for selecting one of said received images; means forindicating said selection to a terminal which has transmitted theselected image; means for controlling communication with anotherterminal following receipt from said other terminal of an indicationthat the user thereof has viewed said recorded visual image and wishesto establish communication; and means visually and acousticallyscreening the terminal form its surroundings.
 32. The system of claim21, wherein the store comprises at least one hard disc.
 33. Acommunication system for facilitating introductions comprising aplurality of terminals, each with a video camera directed to view anindividual using said terminal; recording means for recording a visualimage of said individual; means for adding said image to a storecontaining corresponding images from other said terminals; networkingmeans for networking images from said store amongst terminals from whichimages do not originate, selecting means enabling said individual toselect an image from amongst those transmitted to his/her terminal;indicating means to indicate such selection to the terminal from whichthe selected image originated; and communication means controlled by theindividual at the selected terminals to communicate with each other,wherein the indicating means is adapted to cause transmission of thevisual image of the individual at the selecting terminal to the selectedterminal to indicate interest.
 34. A communicated system forfacilitating introduction comprising a plurality of terminals, each witha video camera directed to view an individual using said terminal;recording means for recording a visual image of said individual; meansfor adding said image to a store containing corresponding images formother said terminals; networking means for networking images from saidstore amongst terminals from which the images do not originate;selecting means enabling said individual to select an image from amongstthose transmitted to his/her terminal; indicating means to indicate suchselection to the terminal from which the selected image originated; andcommunication means controlled by the individual at the selectedterminal enabling the individuals at the selecting and selectedterminals to communicate with each others wherein each terminalcomprises means to connect the terminal to the networking means uponpayment of a fee.
 35. A system as claimed in claim 4, comprising meanscontrolling the store whereby the visual image from the activatedterminal is stored during the use of the terminal by said individual andthereafter is erased or transferred to a secondary storage means.
 36. Acommunication system for formulating introductions comprising aplurality of geographically or otherwise physically separate stationseach comprising at least one terminal, each terminal being visuallyscreened and acoustically insulated from its surroundings and having avideo camera directed to view an individual using said terminal;recording means for recording a visual image of said individual; meansfor adding said image to a store containing corresponding images fromother said terminals; networking means for networking images from saidstore amongst terminals from which the images do not originate;selecting means enabling said individual to select an image from amongstthose transmitted to his/her terminal; indicating means to indicate suchselection to the terminal from which the selected image originated; andcommunication means controlled by the individual at the selectedterminal enabling the individuals at the selecting and selectedterminals to communicate with each other.
 37. A system as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the networking means is adapted to network the visualimage originating from said selecting terminal to other terminals in adefined geographical area.
 38. A system as claimed in claim 36, whereineach station has a plurality of terminals, each visually screened andacoustically insulated from its neighboring terminals.